2011 PQT and AB Cut-Off Times- click here

2011 BCSSA Age-Div Locator- click here

 

General Swim Meet Info
Types of meets:

  • Heats and finals
    • Heats run in the morning and finals run in the afternoon
    • Swimmers are seeded (placed) into lanes so each heat consists of a mix of fastest and slowest swimmers. This usually makes for faster times.
    • The fastest swimmer in the heat is assigned the center lane and this arrangement continues to the outside lane creating a V-shaped affect.
    • In a 6 lane pool the six fastest swimmers from the heats in each stroke and division swim in the finals. The 7th and 8th placed finisher from the heats will swim as an alternate should one of the finalist be a no show.
    • In the case of an 8 lane pool then the top 8 finalists compete.  The 9th and 10th placed finisher from the heats will swim as an alternate should one of the finalist be a no show.
  • Timed Finals
    • Swimmers are seeded (placed) into lanes so each heat consists of a mix of fastest and slowest swimmers. This usually makes for faster times.
    • The fastest swimmer in the heat is assigned the center lane and this arrangement continues to the outside lane creating a V-shaped affect
    • Times from all heats are compared and then arranged from fastest to slowest. These are posted as final standings.

 

Heat Sheets:

  • Heat sheets are made up ahead of time and are available at each meet.
  • Heat sheets show the event, the heat and the lane which every competitor swims, and will also state the swimmers name and the event they are about to swim (lest they forget!)
  • Late entries will not be listed in the program.

 

Events:

  • There are different events available to be swum at all meets.
    • Novice 25m events (Free, Back, Breast, and Butterfly)
    • The events for non-Novice swimmers consist of;
      • 50m Freestyle
      • 100m Freestyle
      • 50m or 100m Backstroke (depending on division)
      • 50m or 100m Breaststroke (depending on division)
      • 50m and/or 100m Butterfly (depending on division)
      • 100m or 200m IM (Individual Medley) (depending on division) which consists of 25m or 50m (depending on 100m or 200m), to be swum in a prearranged order.  (Fly, Back, Breast, Free)
  • There are normally several heats which make up one event, to help make the meet run quicker.
  • Each individual event has there own number by division and sex.

 

Warm-ups

  • Warm-up times for each meet are held before the official start of the meet.
  • Generally warm-ups are approximately 15- 20 minutes.
  • Warm up times are posted on each meet entry form.

 

Heats

  • A heat is made up of swimmers in the pool at one time. 6-8 swimmers per heat depending on lanes available in each pool.
  •  The first heat of each race begins with Div.1 and works its way up to Div.8.
  • With each division the girls’ heats swim first, then the boys’ heats.

 

Novice Swimmers

  • Novices are swimmers that are just learning to swim.
  • They may enter meets if they wish and they are welcome to have a senior swimmer or a coach beside them should they need any help.
  • There are no disqualifications.
  • These are usually very entertaining events, so be sure to watch and cheer on the swimmers.

 

Marshalling

  • Marshalling are volunteers who arrange swimmers into their lanes, heats and events and escort them on deck.
  • Div 1- 3 Swimmers are always marshaled before each event. At some meets Div 4-8 must check in to marshalling and make their own way to the blocks on time for their event.
  • Event numbers will be called, and swimmers are to go to the marshalling area.
  • It is important that swimmers get to the marshalling area on time, or they will be scratched from there event and not able to participate.
  • In marshalling swimmers may receive a pink card for girls or a blue card for boys. These show the swimmers names, event, heat, lane number and best time which the swimmer will give to the timers before their start of their race.  Some meets, are cardless meets and in marshalling the swimmer will be asked their name and if in Div 1-3 will be placed into appropriate spots, and Div 4-8 will be asked to initial that the heat sheet that they checked in.
  • Swimmers wait in their respective lanes behind their timers until the race in progress is finished.
  • If a new swimmer is unfamiliar with the starting blocks they may dive from the deck.
  • When the race is finished, swimmers stay in the water against the pool wall, until the next race has started, or until they are told to exit the pool from the starter.

 

The Start

  • The starter ensures that each heat will have a fair start.
  • Swimmers will wait behind the blocks until directed to approach the block.
  • Once the referee blows the whistle the swimmer will take their place on the block.
  • At the second whistle the swimmers will take their position, (i.e. get into dive position)
  • When the starter says “Take your mark” the swimmer cannot move until the buzzer sounds.
  • If the swimmer moves after that has been said and before the buzzer sounds they will be disqualified from that event as a false start.
  • For backstroke, the start is slightly different.  The swimmers wait behind the blocks until first whistle blown, then they get in the water.  At second whistle, swimmer grabs hold of the swimming block and pull up to get ready for your swim.  At the “take your marks” from the starter they cannot move until buzzer sounds.

 

False Start

  • If a swimmer false starts they usually swim the race to the end.
  • Their time will not count, as they will be disqualified.

 

Results

  • Results for each event are posted in a prominent area of the host pool.
  • If the meet is a “Heats and Finals” then it is important that you check the results as your swimmer may have qualified to swim in the finals. 
  • A PQT time beside a time indicates that this time is a qualifying time for provincials. If you attain a PQT at the finals of Regionals, you automatically qualify for Provincials.  To qualify and swim at Provincials you must either place in top 3 or achieve a PQT during finals at Regionals.

 

Disqualifications (DQ)

  • Each swim stroke has specific guidelines for each stroke and turn.
  • Stroke and turn officials know the guidelines for each stroke and turn and watch the swimmers closely for violations.
  • If a swimmer is disqualified, the Official will pull them aside after the swim and explain what was done incorrectly.
  • If the swimmer cannot be found after the race, the official can then disqualify swimmer by informing the coach of the reasons for the DQ.

 

Relays

  • Relays are generally held at the end of the meet day.
  • Relays are organized the day of the meet, by the coach, dependant on who is present at the meet and would like to stay for the relay.
  • The Coach will try to make the relay teams up by allowing everyone a chance to participate if they so desire.
  • At heats and finals meets, if there is more than one heat per division they will have to swim a heat and a final.  If only one heat, the relay team only swims once during finals.
  • In a freestyle relay all 4 swimmers will swim freestyle.
  • In a Medley Relay, the coach will assign each of the 4 swimmers a stroke they are to swim and these must be swum in an assigned order; (back, breast, fly, free)
  • Relays are made up of 4 swimmers of each division and sex.  When there is not enough swimmers from the same division and sex to make up a relay team, someone from a lower division can be placed on the relay.  The relay team is entered by division of the oldest swimmer. 
  • Relays are a lot of fun and a chance for new and experienced swimmers to compete together and form a new bond.

 

Medals and Ribbons

  • Medals and ribbons are awarded based on division and sex, to the top 6 or 8 finishers, depending on size of pool
  • Medals and ribbons are sent after the meet is ended with the coaches to be handed out at a practice.

Swim Meet Personnel

  • Everyone who works at a swim meet is a volunteer.
  • Stroke and turn officials, the meet referee and starter have taken a course and have volunteered to be trained for these specific positions. 
    • The referee keeps the meet running at a good pace. 
    • The starter starts the next heat once the referee gives the okay. 
    • Stroke and turn officials watch swimmers strokes and turns for any infractions of the rules and DQ any who do so.
  • Clerk of the course- 
    • is in charge of taking deck entries and scratches
    • distributing pink and blue cards to the marshallers
  • Marshallers- organize the swimmers into their divisions and lanes and get them ready to go to the blocks for their events.
  • Timers - there are normally 3 timers per lane, they not only time the swimmers swim, but also must record their times and operate any electronic timing system if being used. 
  • Place judges -there are 2 place judges on either side of the pool.  Their main job is to watch the end of the race and mark down in order 1-6 or 1-8 the lane numbers of the finishers as they finish.
  • Runner- is to collect place judges sheets and the cards from the timers after each heat and bring them to the office.
  • Crash desk- is where the sorting and tabulation of results are done.
  • Computer-
    • Prepare the meet entries and print off heat sheets
    • Enter all deck entries
    • collate and post the results
    • print labels for ribbons and medals
  • Ribbons- take the labels from computer person and labels all ribbons and medals and distribute them to the teams’ coaches.
  • Food personnel make and serve the food to be served to all volunteers at a meet.  If you want to get fed, and always have the best view on deck (poolside!) volunteer!